Having driven numerous McLarens on racetracks across the UK and Europe, this time I wanted a test that mirrored an actual owner’s experience. Enter the McLaren Artura Spider sleek, innovative, and distinctly hybrid. Rather than a track day, I took it through London’s bustling festive streets, Oxford Street, Sloane Street, and the King’s Road at Christmas.
Alongside four other McLarens, we became an impromptu Christmas parade, gliding past bars and boutiques, turning heads at every stoplight. Our base? The Royal Lancaster Hotel, perfectly placed near Marble Arch and Hyde Park, with a secure car park to keep this £221,500 supercar safe. After handing the keys to the doorman, an authentic Thai feast at the Nipa Restaurant set the tone for an indulgent experience.
McLaren’s first V6 hybrid, the Artura Spider, marries twin turbos with an electric motor for a surprisingly practical McLaren. A plug-in hybrid, it offers around 20 miles on electric power alone, perfect for city drives.
Under the bonnet lies a 3.0-litre V6 engine paired with an eight-speed twin-clutch gearbox. Reverse gear? That’s handled by the 94 bhp electric motor powered by a 7.4 kWh battery, a clever trick, though it raises concerns about battery depletion.
Stylistically, the Artura retains elements of the 570, but with stunning new touches. The rear flying buttresses are breathtaking, and the new McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA) tub, manufactured in Sheffield, is both stronger and lighter than ever, keeping kerb weight down to 1,395 kg, remarkable for a hybrid.
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